Читать книгу No Smoke Without Fire - Paul Gitsham, Paul Gitsham - Страница 32

Chapter 18

By the time Cameron, Stockley and Warren arrived back at Middlesbury police station, Stockley had already telephoned his father’s solicitor. Although he wasn’t under arrest, Cameron was still processed by the custody officer, who reminded him of his rights and directed him to a small room to await his lawyer. He ostentatiously left the door wide open so that he could listen in to anything the father and son might say, a mute reminder that their conversation would not be subject to the same privileges that a lawyer and client would be entitled to.

Thirty minutes later, Cameron’s solicitor arrived. A portly, balding man in his late fifties, he’d not represented Cameron at his first trial — that solicitor had retired some years ago — but he had negotiated his release and the terms of his parole.

“What’s he in for? I understand he’s attended voluntarily for questioning, but you have an arrest warrant and have left a team in place should you be able to raise a search warrant.”

Warren shrugged. “Just doing it by the book — complete chain of evidence and all that.”

The solicitor grunted. “Not a lot of information for me to go on here, but I can read between the lines and I’ve heard the news. Can I see the arrest warrant?”

“No need, it hasn’t been served.” The arrest warrant contained details that Warren would only share if necessary.

The solicitor grunted again, letting it pass, although Warren was under no illusions that it would be forgotten about. Leading him towards the small room containing Cameron and Stockley, neither of whom had said a word yet, Warren let the door close behind him. Everything said inside that room would now be privileged.

Grabbing a coffee from the vending machine, Warren went to greet Sutton, who had just returned from the farm.

“The farmhouse is secure and a SOCO team are on standby.”

“Good, but don’t hold your breath. I’ve got a feeling that we aren’t going to get much from Cameron. That bloody son of his is too smart by half and his brief is pretty experienced also, by the look of him.”

“He is,” confirmed Sutton, who’d been at Middlesbury for years. “He’s pretty reasonable for a solicitor and knows when to fight his battles, but he does a thorough job and won’t stand any bullshit.”

“Well, then, let’s see what Mr Cameron has to say for himself.”

* * *

The opening volley of the interview came, unsurprisingly, from Cameron’s lawyer. Warren had led Cameron and his lawyer into the small interview room. Unexpectedly, Michael had opted to remain outside, leaving his father in the hands of his solicitor. After ensuring that the voice recorder was set up and that Sutton had read the man his rights, Warren had sat back, arms folded, and waited patiently. Cameron’s solicitor had started by complaining loudly and forcefully about his client’s treatment thus far.

In a two-minute diatribe he accused Warren and his officers of being on a fishing trip; of bullying Cameron into attending an interview ‘voluntarily’ by implying arrest if he didn’t do so, then making up bogus Health and Safety regulations to isolate his client from his accompanying adult.

Warren could almost see the quotation marks hanging in the air around the word ‘voluntarily’. When he’d finished he sat back in his chair.

Warren looked over at Sutton, who appeared to be in the process of picking his nose. A gesture that couldn’t be heard on the tape, it nevertheless clearly stated the officer’s contempt for the alleged trampling of the suspect’s rights that had just been outlined. Warren fought back a smile. Sutton had a style all of his own.

Ignoring what the solicitor had just said, Warren leant forward in his chair.

“Mr Cameron, can you tell us where you were on the evening of Friday second December?”

Cameron glanced towards his lawyer, licked his lips and mumbled, “No comment.”

Warren shook his head. “Come on, Mr Cameron. The sooner you answer our questions, the sooner you can go home.”

The lawyer leant forward. “May I remind the detective chief inspector that my client is here voluntarily and that he is in fact free to leave at any time. Nor is he under any obligation to say anything that may incriminate him.”

Warren nodded, as if conceding the point. “Absolutely right. Until — sorry — unless we arrest Mr Cameron, he is free to leave at any time. And of course you are right — Mr Cameron has no need to say anything that might incriminate him.”

He looked back at Cameron. “Can I assume that what you might have to say is incriminating?”

The lawyer’s response was swift. “No, you may not, as you well know. Failure to answer a question may not be seen as an admission of guilt.”

“Of course, you are absolutely right. However it is quite possible that if Mr Cameron can account for his whereabouts on the night in question, he might just remove himself from any suspicion.”

“That is a decision that Mr Cameron has the right to decide for himself and he should not be coerced.”

There remained a silence for a few seconds, before Warren pulled open an envelope. He carefully laid out several A4 photographs, face down onto the table.

“Let’s try something else. Are you familiar with the travel agents Far and Away?” Again Cameron glanced at his solicitor, before shaking his head. “No comment.”

“Perhaps you are familiar with one of its sales advisors, Sally Evans.” A flash of recognition appeared in the older man’s eyes before being carefully suppressed. “No comment.”